If Chancellor George Osborne wants economic recovery, he must stop the government stifling the “animal spirits” of entrepreneurs

Budgets matter for two reasons. There is the stuff that gets the media attention. This category usually involves a bit of taking from rich Peter — the owner of a private jet in this case — to give to poorer Paul — the driver of a more humble, petrol-consuming car. Or from a maligned banker to a low-paid taxpayer. That is the stuff of politics — redistributing money earned by other people. It is the meat on which Labour governments fed for over a decade, and in which George Osborne indulges himself when the desire to be fair — phrased as "We are all in this together" — becomes a necessary political move to soften a change in policy that adversely affects some group accustomed to ever-rising benefits.